Shadow Cabinet to Issue Report Card Assessing Prabowo's Performance

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of State Secretariat of the Indonesia's Shadow Cabinet, Feri Amsari, said the civilian-led group plans to publish a performance report evaluating President Prabowo Subianto's administration after three years in office.The report, he said, will present the Shadow Cabinet's assessment of the government's performance from a checks-and-balances perspective, supported by data and evidence."Hopefully, they will be encouraged and realize the need to improve public services," Feri said during a Shadow Cabinet press conference in Central Jakarta on Monday, July 27, 2026.Feri said the Shadow Cabinet also plans to raise public donations to support programs that it believes the government has failed to address. One example, he said, would be improving road access in underserved areas."Take a viral example. There is a school where students and teachers have to cross [dangerous routes], so we will think about how to build something based on public funds," said Feri, a constitutional law expert from Andalas University.He added that the group could also provide assistance to villages with limited access to healthcare services. Any use of public donations, he said, would be transparently reported."The same public funds will then be used to make it happen there," Feri said.Beyond social programs, the Shadow Cabinet plans to hold dialogues with various groups, including students, and visit regions across Indonesia, particularly university campuses."We will have discussions with students about programs that the state should be carrying out," he said.Feri said the people are the "president" of the Shadow Cabinet, adding that the group aims to advocate for constitutional rights that it believes have not been fulfilled by the state.Shadow Cabinet Says It Is Not Seeking PowerFeri stressed that the Shadow Cabinet was not created to seize power from Prabowo's administration. Instead, he said it was formed as a response to what civil society groups view as the weakening of checks and balances over the executive branch.He argued that Indonesia currently lacks a formal opposition capable of effectively overseeing the Red and White Cabinet, which is largely made up of figures from parties supporting the government."Unfortunately, all of that cannot be realized because it is held captive by political interests," Feri said in a statement cited on Saturday, July 18, 2026.He also criticized what he described as disorder within Indonesia's presidential system, citing blurred lines between the legislative and executive branches."There is a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who reports the House's work to the executive. There are ministers who report to the deputy speaker of the House," Feri said.Despite establishing a parallel cabinet structure, Feri acknowledged that Prabowo's Red and White Cabinet remains the country's official government."Our right is to monitor and control them," he said.The Shadow Cabinet was formed by a coalition of civil society figures, including academics and activists, with 15 positions designed to mirror government ministries.Feri reiterated that the initiative has no backing from political parties or politicians. He said all activities are conducted voluntarily and on a pro bono basis for the public interest.Read: Feri Amsari: Indonesia's Shadow Cabinet Does Not Constitute TreasonClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News